“Wapiti.”
“I'm no wiser than before I asked the question,” said François. “Pray, enlighten me as to what a wapiti may be!”
“Why, red deer; or elk, if you like.”
“Oh! elk—now I understand you. I thought they were elk, but they're so far off I wasn't sure.”
Lucien at this moment rose up, and looking through a small telescope, which he carried, confirmed the statement of the “captain,” and pronounced it to be a herd of elk.
“Come, Luce,” demanded François, “tell us what you know of the elk. It will pass the time. Norman says it's no use going after them out there in the open ground, as they'd shy off before one could get within shot. You see there is not a bush within half-a-mile of them.”
“If we wait,” interrupted Norman, “I should not wonder but we may have them among the bushes before long. They appear to be grazing this way. I warrant you, they'll come to the lake to drink before nightfall.”
“Very well then: the philosopher can tell us all about them before that.”
Lucien, thus appealed to, began:—
“There are few animals that have so many names as this. It is called in different districts, or by different authors, elk, round-horned elk, American elk, stag, red deer, grey moose, le biche, wapiti and wewaskish.